Paraguay’s Highway Patrol has introduced extensive traffic management measures ahead of the annual Virgin of Caacupé festival, one of the country’s largest religious gatherings. This is to reduce the risk of accidents and ensure the safety of Virgin Of Caacupé pilgrims. Every year on 8 December, hundreds of thousands of people in Paraguay undertake the pilgrimage on foot to the Basilica of Caacupé to honour the Virgin of Caacupé, the country’s beloved spiritual patroness.
Many will be walking dozens of kilometres along National Route PY02 in an act of devotion and penance. The restrictions and special arrangements will affect this Route PY02, the main artery linking Asunción with the east of the country, during the peak pilgrimage period in early December.
Vehicle restrictions on Route PY02
From 17:00 on Friday, 5 December until 10:00 on Monday, 8 December, the following vehicles will be prohibited from using key sections of National Route PY02 “Asunción – Ciudad del Este”:
- Vehicles with trailers;
- Cargo trucks of 10 tonnes or more;
- Vehicles transporting live livestock;
- Vehicles carrying indivisible loads, fuels, flammable or explosive materials;
- Bicycles;
- Any vehicle that fails to meet technical and safety standards.
The restricted sections are:
- From km 86.5 (Itacurubí de la Cordillera) in the Interior-to-Capital direction;
- From km 15 (San Lorenzo, junction with route D027) in the Capital-to-Interior direction.
Contra-Flow operation for pilgrims
A contra-flow system will be activated to accommodate the large number of walkers heading to Caacupé. From km 37 to km 52.5 of Route PY02 (between the Ypacaraí tollbooth and Caacupé), the Capital-to-Interior lane will be reserved for pilgrims on foot, who must keep to the right-hand side of the roadway.
In the opposite (Interior-to-Capital) direction, the contra-flow will operate from 12:00 on Sunday, 7 December until 06:00 on Monday, 8 December 2025. Additionally, one-way traffic will be enforced on departmental route D009 for outbound public and private vehicles:
- From Morphi Street to the intersection with Del Maestro Street (effective from the start of the operation);
- From the Del Maestro Street intersection to the Santa Ana roundabout (from 04:00 on Monday, 8 December until the operation concludes).
Mandatory stops for buses
All public passenger transport vehicles travelling on Route PY02 between Ypacaraí and Caacupé must make compulsory stops at designated points from 00:00 on Saturday, 6 December until 10:00 on Monday, 8 December 2025.The required stops are located at:
- km 37.5 of Route PY02;
- km 56 (near Morphi Street);
- Caacupé Bus Terminal;
- The municipal site opposite Lagorá.
Flexible timetable and further adjustments
Authorities have emphasised that schedules may be modified depending on traffic volume and Virgin Of Caacupé pilgrim numbers. The Highway Patrol, in coordination with other agencies, reserves the right to alter timings or extend traffic management measures on additional road sections as circumstances require.
Motorists and pilgrims are urged to plan their journeys accordingly, and to cooperate with police and traffic officials throughout the festival period.
